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Denis Charles

colinmce

By colinmce
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colinmce Community Regular

colinmce

Posted
Posted

Don't think there's a thread on him here yet.

Is anyone else a huge fan of his drumming? I admit, I'm really only familiar with his early work with Cecil Taylor, but that's enough to make him one of my favorite jazz drummers. I furthermore don't think those early Cecil sides would be quite what they are without him. His approach is so simple and unique, but he swings as hard on just a ride cymbal as some drummers can manage on a full kit. He provides such an open palette for Cecil on those recordings that it's interesting that Taylor was frustrated by his "straight" approach. A lot to be learned there, nevertheless, I think.

Here are a couple cool interviews that provide a lot of insight:

http://www.denischarles.com/JazzMagazine.html

http://www.denischarles.com/CadenceMagazine.html

I'm simply dying to hear School Days; hopefully it'll be reissued one of these days. Any other recommendations i/r/t his work?

paul secor Newbie

paul secor

Posted
Posted

I fell in love with Denis (then Dennis) Charles' music when I heard Looking Ahead! over 40 years ago. That hasn't changed in all the years that have come since then.

Some of my favorite recordings (outside of the ones done with Cecil) are:

Bangception - w. Billy Bang

w. Claude Lawrence and Wilber Morris: Lost Art/Hidden Treasures and Presenting Claude Lawrence

Steve Lacy: Capers w. Ronnie Boykins & Denis Charles

The Jazz Doctors (Frank Lowe, Billy Bang, Rafael Garrett, & Denis Charles): Intensive Care

jeffcrom Newbie

jeffcrom

Posted
Posted

Two more suggestions:

Billy Bang: Untitled Gift - a 1982 date that has been reissued on CD, but I don't know the label.

Susie Ibarra/Denis Charles: Drum Talk (Wobbly Rail) - a wonderful meeting between two master percussionists. I'm a saxophonist, and I like it. It's out of print, but readily available from Amazon vendors.

JohnS Newbie

JohnS

Posted
Posted (edited)

Looking Ahead was my first experience of Denis. Loved his work ever since.

I can recommend the Silkheart Booker T date.

Edited by JohnS
fasstrack Newbie

fasstrack

Posted
Posted

Don't think there's a thread on him here yet.

Is anyone else a huge fan of his drumming? I admit, I'm really only familiar with his early work with Cecil Taylor, but that's enough to make him one of my favorite jazz drummers. I furthermore don't think those early Cecil sides would be quite what they are without him. His approach is so simple and unique, but he swings as hard on just a ride cymbal as some drummers can manage on a full kit. He provides such an open palette for Cecil on those recordings that it's interesting that Taylor was frustrated by his "straight" approach. A lot to be learned there, nevertheless, I think.

Here are a couple cool interviews that provide a lot of insight:

http://www.denischarles.com/JazzMagazine.html

http://www.denischarles.com/CadenceMagazine.html

I'm simply dying to hear School Days; hopefully it'll be reissued one of these days. Any other recommendations i/r/t his work?

I played in a street band with Denis one summer. 'Many moon'. Playing out by the Plaza Hotel with a hyperactive trombone player from Italy. His entire repertoire consisted of what he pronounced 'Tenaahd Madaness'. He played 80 choruses and jumped around. Denis would stand up and play standing, yelling at Alex, our hero, to 'learn some goddamn tunes....I mean I love you, but....'

Denis to me, from that and other situations I've heard him in, was a pretty straight ahead drummer. They used to get him to 'pass' for Art Blakely when Blakely was too sick or strung out to make the gig. He played with Sonny Rollins. (Jim Hall 'voted him out', he said). The out stuff he's more known for I think was a result of guys he knew with gigs for him. But he was a credible bebop drummer. I dug him as a person, too. We had nice talks. Sorry the drug thing dragged another one down.

Guest Bill Barton

Guest Bill Barton

Posted
Posted

Some of his last recordings were with pianist/composer Joel Forrester. I *love* his playing on Monk's "Work" from the CD by Joel Forrester & Illustrious Others Pre Microscopic Music Circa 1980. He's also in Forrester's People Like Us group.

Count me in as another big fan of School Days and Drum Talk in particular. Gotta search out that Capers disc...

Steve Reynolds Community Regular

Steve Reynolds

Posted
Posted

Captain of the Deep is a great recording on eremite - from 1991 - awesome sound and the performances of a lifetime by the trumpeter Breedlove.

there are couple of terrific trio records with Wilbur Morris and Thomas Borgmann

Billy Bang's Valve # 10 is splendid recording with Frank Lowe and Simone rounding out the quartet from 1988 or so.

flat5 Newbie

flat5

Posted
Posted (edited)

"Though def. more on the free side, that John Blum recording he's on (w/ Antonio Grippi & Wm Parker) is a monster. Astrogeny, on Eremite."

I sent an email to Antonio with a link to this thread.

I thought he would like to see a mention and I know he loved Denis.

He should get more work.

Edited by flat5

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